Major Awards:

Entertainment Reviews:

Total Film - 12/01/2003
"...This adap of Joy Adamson's memoir has plenty to recommend it..."

Product Description:

In Kenya, British game warden George Adamson and his wife Joy raise a lioness, Elsa, as a pet, only to discover that they must retrain her to live in the wild in order to prevent the Government from placing her in a zoo. Based on Joy's book, BORN FREE is a touching true story the whole family can experience together. Academy Awards: Best Song ("Born Free"), Best Original Music Score.

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Production Notes:

George Adamson served as technical advisor on the film. Peter Whitehead served as animal supervisor.

Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers were married in real life as well as on screen.

The success of "Born Free" produced a sequel, "Living Free" (1972). It starred Susan Hampshire, Nigel Davenport, and Geoffrey Keen, and was directed by Jack Couffer from a script by Millard Kaufman. The story concerned the Adamson's effort to protect the cubs of Elsa the lioness.

NBC aired a television series based on the film from September 9, 1974, to December 12, 1974. "Born Free" starred Gary Collins and Diana Muldaur, and was filmed on location in East Africa.

Filmed on location in Kenya, East Africa. Shot in Technicolor and Panavision. Post-production work was done at the Shepperton Studios in England.

"Born Free" was shown as a Royal Command Performance in London in early March, 1966.